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Barton, the Belgian Malinois with only three legs, was once recommended for euthanasia. However, it has defied the odds by growing up to become a police dog in a specialist crime-fighting unit in China.
Born in June 2019 at the dog kennel of the Special Force Unit in Nanyang, Henan province, northern China, the canine is the descendant of an outstanding police dog.
However, Barton was born with a congenital defect in his left foreleg, which limited his mobility.
According to South China Morning Post, veterinarians once recommended that the puppy be put down.
Barton was briefly given to a local family, but his strong instincts and temperament led him to become mischievous and aggressive, which resulted in his return to the police unit
Its 46-year-old trainer, Li Xiaodong, decided to train Barton after noticing that the canine was eager to train with the other dogs.
Despite losing balance and getting injured, Barton showed impressive qualities, including an outstanding bite strength, high stress tolerance, fearlessness, and sharp instincts when searching for dangerous objects.
Thanks to its trainer, Barton eventually passed the police dog certification exam and officially became a riot control canine at 2 years old.
Li specially crafted a harness to reduce the pressure on Barton's gait, often carrying him on his back during missions.
"We're comrades," Li told state media CCTV. He added that they shared "a bond of shared hardships and mutual sympathy".
Li, who is wheelchair-bound due to an injury in 2016, said he was inspired by Barton and the two share a bond
He said he felt useless after losing his physical strength until he met Barton.
"After spending time with Barton, I realised, too, that he never saw his three legs as a disadvantage," Li said. "Instead, he faced training and work with tremendous enthusiasm. I was deeply inspired: if a dog can work that hard, why should I give up?".
Li started training with Barton by his side, gradually increasing his workout intensity to rebuild his strength.
"No one believed Barton could pass the exam, but he did," Li said, adding that Barton "was not just an ordinary disabled dog; he was a comrade who earned his badge through sheer ability".
Barton's story has inspired and moved many on mainland social media.
